Stuttgart · Steuer-ID / Finanzamt
Get your tax ID & tax class in Stuttgart
After your Anmeldung in Stuttgart, your tax ID (Steuer-Identifikationsnummer) is generated automatically and posted to you — you don't apply for it. The Finanzamt is where you go for everything else tax-related: changing tax class, registering as a freelancer, or filing a return, most of it now handled online through ELSTER.
Free. The tax ID arrives by post 2–3 weeks after your Anmeldung.
What you need to bring
- Passport or IDRequired
How to get it: Issued by your home country. Renew at your country's embassy or consulate in Germany — appointments can take weeks, so check the expiry early.
- MeldebescheinigungRequired
How to get it: You receive it at your Anmeldung appointment at the Bürgeramt. Lost it? Request a new copy at the Bürgeramt (small fee, often bookable online).
- Tax ID (Steuer-ID)Required
How to get it: Mailed automatically ~2–3 weeks after your first Anmeldung. Lost it? Find it on a payslip or tax assessment, or request it again from the BZSt online.
- Employment contractRequired
How to get it: From your employer — the signed contract. If you only have a digital copy, a printout is usually accepted; ask HR for a signed original if an office insists.
Can you do it online?
Most Finanzamt matters (tax class, freelancer registration, returns) run online via ELSTER.
Open the official portal ↗Good to know
- Didn't get the letter? You can request your tax ID again from the Bundeszentralamt für Steuern — it's reissued by post, never by phone or email.
- Give your tax ID to your employer fast: without it you're taxed at the highest emergency rate (tax class 6) until it's on file, then refunded later.
- Married couples can split into tax classes 3/5 or 4/4 — the right choice can noticeably change monthly net pay, so it's worth a quick check.
- Freelancers register via the Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung on ELSTER; this is also where you get your separate tax number (Steuernummer).
Frequently asked questions
What do I need for Steuer-ID / Finanzamt in Stuttgart?
You'll need 4 key documents: Passport or ID, Meldebescheinigung, Tax ID (Steuer-ID), Employment contract. Stuttgart and the wider Baden-Württemberg run several services on their own state portals.
Can I do Steuer-ID / Finanzamt online in Stuttgart?
Most Finanzamt matters (tax class, freelancer registration, returns) run online via ELSTER.
Which office handles Steuer-ID / Finanzamt in Stuttgart?
Get your tax ID & tax class in Stuttgart is handled at the local level in Baden-Württemberg. The exact office and any forms are linked from the official source on this page, and the Amtly app opens the right Stuttgart / Baden-Württemberg portal for you.
Checklist last verified 2026-06-11. Rules vary by office and change over time — always confirm with the official source linked above.